Latch case



H. YOUNG Dec. 18, 1951 LATCH CASE Filed NOV. l5, 1948 ATTaRNEYs PatentedDec. 18, 1951 rUNITED vSTATES .PATENT `OFFICE l .LATCH CASE HerbertYoung, YG'rrand Rapids, Mich., assignor to NationalA BrassCompany,.Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation `oi-lVIichigan ApplicationNovember 15, 1948, Serial No. 60,026

The present'invention relates to a latch case, and is primarilyconcernedwith 'improvements in latch cases of generally cylindricalformmade of two parts, veach .partly of generally halfcylindrical form,and is directed to a novel, and

particularly useful means for securing the inner ends of the two `partsof the-case together. It is further `directed to simple and novelstructure for permitting the use of latch bolts of greater crosssectional areas in latch cases of standard.

diameters, than has heretofore been possible.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide Va latchcase having novel structure, by means .of which the mentioned functionsand improvements are attained, an.-V

understanding of which may be had from the following description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a door latch, havingthe latch case of my invention therein, showing the latch bolt inassembly with the latch case.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the rear portion of thecase substantially on the plane of line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the plane ofline 3-3 of Fig. l and,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section substantially on the plane of line 4 4 ofFig. 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diiferent figuresof the drawing, and the sectional views are taken looking in thedirections indicated by the arrows.

Latch cases of the type with which this invention is used include twohalves of sheet metal,

each at its outer portion for approximately onehalf of its length, asindicated at I, being of semicylindrical form, and at the inner end ofsaid semi-cylindrical portions pressed inwardly to provide a transverseshoulder 2. The case members back of said shoulders are of a generallychannel form, having webs 3 from each of which a roll-back housingportion 4 is pressed outwardly, and with flanges 5 extending toward eachother from the longitudinal edges of the webs 3 meeting when the twoparts of the case are brought together. On one of the flanges 5 at eachside or half of the case a projection 6 is formed, and the cooperatingange 5 is recessed to receive it as shown in Fig. 2, thus locating andholding the parts against relative longitudinal movement with respect toeach other.

At the inner end of one of the parts of the latch case, it is closed byan inturned flange 1. At the same inner end of the other case part alike 2 Claims. (Cl. 2924337) flange 8 is turned inwardly, and from it,substantially midway between its ends, a narrow tongue 9 is offset adistance substantially equal to the thickness of the metal used, andthen continued in a tongue S parallel to the flange 8 so that it may bereceived at the inner side of and lie against the flange 'I as vshown inFig. 2.

At the inner end portion of the case part having the ange I a guidemember of channel form, having a web. IIJ vand two spaced flanges II, iswell secured by welding or otherwise, permanently :securing the edgeportions of the flanges II to and' at the inner sides of the web 3 ofthe case part having the endflange 1. Its inner end is in a yplanelocated a short distance inwardly from the inner sides of the ange 1 andis spaced a distance from the free edge of the such flange so that thetongue 9 may be inserted in place by positioning the two case parts atan acute angle to each other, and then turning them to engagingposition, as Fig. 2. The opposite end of the web Il) has an arcuaterecess I2 for a roll-back i3 of conventional structure to be mounted inthe associated outwardly pressed portion 4. Such roll-back otherwisewould be stopped from installation.

The flanges II serve as guides for the inner edges of two parallel barsi4 forming a part of the retractor for the latch bolt. Through each bara transverse pin I5 passes, located in the path of movement of the endsof outwardly extending fianges of the roll-backs. The side bars i4 areconnected at their front ends by a cross member I6 of cup form, theexterior diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of thecylindrical portion of the latch casting. A coiled compression spring I1seats at one end against the ilange of member I5, and at the other endagainst the shoulders 2 of the latch case. A stem I8 having a head 18apasses freely through the center of the member I6 and at its forward endis equipped with a latch bolt I9 generally rectangular in cross section,but having one side beveled in accordance with usual practice. The boltis normally releasably held in an outer position by a light coiledspring 20 around the stem I8 and between the inner side of the bolt andthe bottom of the member I6.

The outer end portions of the cylindrical sections of the latch case areexteriorly pressed inwardly to provide a continuous annular groove ZIaround the assembled case. At four spaced apart points slot openings 22are cut through the sides and bottoms of the groove in position to alignwith the corners of the bolt I9. The

case is completed by an outer face plate 23 for securing at the edge ofa door and a sleeve 24 secured thereto which telescopes over the groovedend of the assembled case, the sides of the sleeve 24 having spacedinwardly projecting portions 25 retained in the groove.

When the bolt is drawn inwardly by rotation of the roll-backs thecorners of the bolt traverse the slot openings at 22. Therefore, thecross sectional area of the bolt I9 with the corners traversing theslots at 22 may be made larger, as otherwise the corners of the boltWould have to be received inside the inner sides of the annular groove2|.

The improvements described render the assembly of the latch case easierand they are very rapidly and economically manufactured, while the boltmay be of a larger cross sectional size in a standard case of prescribedstandard diameter.

The invention. is dened in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A case for latches or the like having two parts of sheet metallocated one against the other to provide a hollow elongated case, eachof said parts of the case at the inner end thereof having an inturnedange, the two flanges extending toward each other and lying insubstantially the same plane, one of said flanges having an oiset tonguelocated within the case and bearing against the inner side .of theflange of the other of said case parts, and a channel structure securedto said other of said case parts having a web, one end of which isspaced a distance from the free edge of the end flange of said case partsufficient for the entrance of said tongue between them, and havingspaced legs between which the tongue is located, one of said legs beingclosely adjacent each side edge' of the tongue.

2. A latch case comprising two elongated parts each having side and endanges, the side and end flanges of one part having edges in abutmentwith the corresponding side and end flanges of the other part, a notchin the side flange of one part, a first tongue on the side flange of theother part, said first tongue being received within said notch, a secondtongue on the end flange of one part offset from the plane thereof andpositioned against the side of the end flange of the other part, andmeans on said other part engaging the lateral edges of said secondtongue.

HERBERT YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 121,253 Morse Nov. 28, 1871412,418 Russell, Jr. Oct. 8, 1889 464,282 Hunter Dec. 1, 1891 1,114,186Ross Oct. 20, 1914 1,505,380 Dexter Aug. 19, 1924 2,225,663 Segal Dec.24, 1940 2,357,552 Schlage Sept. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 363,178 Germany Nov. 4, 1922

